Hopple.



AUG. 25, 1903;.

H. C. WILLIAMS.-

HOPPLE.

APPLICATION rILBD zrllrafwz.,1903;`

V l Inventorl I@ )7 Zijn/776,

N0 MODEL.

Witnesses Attvorney Tn: mams PETER! co., Pucrourna.. wnsumarom D. n.

l No. 7er/,186.

UNITED STATES Patented August 25, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

I-IOSY CURTIS WILLIAMS, OF NEWSITE, MISSISSIPPI.

HOPPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,186, dated August25, 1903.

Application filed July 2. 1903. Serial No. 164,080. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it iotcty connerie:

Be it known that LHosY CURTIS WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newsite, in the county of Prentiss and State of Mississippi,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hopples; and I dodeclare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in hopples for horses or otheranimals.

The object of the invention is to provide a hopple which willeftectually prevent the animals from jumping, but will not prevent theuse of the legs in walking, and which may be Worn without inconvenienceto the animals.

A further object is to provide a light strong hopple which can bequickly and easily applied to the leg of an animal, and which will beWell adapted to the use for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View of a horse, showing the applicationof the device. Fig. 2 is a detail front view of the'device removed. Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view;

and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View through the same, showing themanner of attaching the straps. l

Referring to the drawings more particularly, 1 denotes the hopple, whichconsists of upper and lower leg-bars 2 and 3, pivoted to-A gether attheir ends, as shown, the engaging ends of the bars being rabbeted, asshown at 4, to form a flush joint, and the inner corners of therab'beted ends are rounded od, as shown at 5, thereby forming ahinge-joint-to permit the bars to fold together in one direction toallow the animal to bend its knee suficiently for walking.l

6 denotes a plate arranged on the outer side ofthe bars 2 and 3 acrossthe joint of the same. Tlie upper end of the plate 6 has a pivotalengagement with the lower end of the bar 2, While the lower end of thesame has a sliding engagement with the upper end of the lower bar 3through the medium of a slot 6, formed in this end of the plate, whichis adapted to engage a pin or Stud 3a on the bar3, as shown.

In the bars 2 and 3 are formed upper and lower pairs ot'transversely-disposed openings 7, and through each pair'of openings islooped no sharp corners to injure the leg of the animal. l

The hopple is usually placed. upon one of the fore legs of the animal,but may be applied to both fore legs, if desired, and when in positiondoes not interfere with the free movement ot' theknee-joint in walking,but

will prevent thebending of the leg sufficiently to enable the animal tojump, as it is well known that in jumping the fore legs are bent upunder the body, and this is prevented by the slotted connection of theplated with the lower bar 3, which limits the folding of the knee. Y A

From the foregoing descriptiomtaken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily4 understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details otconstruction may be resorted to without departing from thev principle orsacrificing any ot the advantages of this invention. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is'

1. In a device of bars, and consequently vthe bending of the thecharacter described,

the combination of upper and lowerbarspivotally connected together attheir ends to fold, means for limiting said folding movement, and meansfor connecting the bars to Vthe leg of an'animal, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination ot upper andlower bars pivotally connected together at their ends to form a foldingflush joint, a plate pivotally connected at one end to one of said barsand having a sliding connection with the other bar whereby the foldingof said bars is limited, and means whereby said bars are connected tothe leg of the animal above and below the knee-joint,substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of upper andlower bars pivotally connected together at their ends to form afoldingushjoint, and having rounded or beveled upper and lower ends, a platehaving a pivotal connection with one of said bars and a pin-andslotconnection With the other bar whereby the folding of said barsislinlited, pairs of slots formed transversely through said bars, strapspassed through said slots whereby said bars are fastened to the leg ofan animal, and a pad arranged across the joint on the inner side of saidbars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HOSY CURTIS WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

W. J. LOWREY, E. B. CLEVELAND.

